No Qigong in China?

[woliveri]

Is there no "Quality" qigong in China? I'm in Shanghai and have looked over and over and have found no Medicial or Martial Qigong (internal) here.

My friend said there's more quality Qigong now in the states rather than China and I didn't believe him. Now, I'm starting to think..........

[onebir]

slightly old post, but maybe you should have a look at:

chinaqigong.net, which might list some people in shanghai and

doubledragonalliance

zhang xiaoyuan's liuhebafa (both in shanghai).

Zhang xiaoyan teaches xingyi and yiquan as well as liuhebafa. Both of these have significant (martially orientated) qigong practices. (I imagine liuhebafa does too - but i don't really know.)

I've also seen a qigong (baduan jin) vcd taught by a professor from shanghai chinese medicine uni (上海中医药大学) so it could be worth enquiring there...

Finally, lots of people on the emptyflower forum know about this sort of stuff, particularly the martial arts end of the spectrum...

[woliveri]

onebir,

thanks for those links!!

[onebir]

wolveri - any luck?

[woliveri]

Actually, yes but not from the sources you listed. I found someone through a friend of a friend. A Zhan Zhuang teacher.

[woliveri]

Interesting, I got an email saying someone replied:

elizaberth wrote:

Here is the message that has just been posted:

***************

what is a zhan zhuang teacher?

***************

But I don't see the post here.

Anyway, to answer the question, Zhan Zhuang is a Standing Exercise (Zhan Zhuang means standing like a stake) used mostly by internal martial artists (Taiji, Xin Yi, Bagua) to build Qi and internal strength.

This particular teacher has developed his own posture which he calls Embryonic Zhan Zhuang. The standing position looks more like a Baby in the Womb than any other Zhan Zhuang I've seen and is suppose to open the channels in the back faster than others but is also natural meaning it's safer than some other qigongs.

He's had good results with his students. A lot have shown signs of detoxification through the skin and another has grown hair on his previously bald head (bald spot).

I just started so we'll see how it goes.

[onebir]

"This particular teacher has developed his own XXXX" always sounds a warning bell with me! It could be great stuff, but some of the traditional qigong sets have been around for generations, so there (should be) a much greater body of knowledge about their effectiveness.

it it simply standing still in various postures, or is there some kind of accompanying physical/mental activity?

[roddy]

But I don't see the post here.

Nothing wrong with the forum, poster opted to delete her message.

[imron]

This particular teacher has developed his own posture which he calls Embryonic Zhan Zhuang. The standing position looks more like a Baby in the Womb than any other Zhan Zhuang I've seen and is suppose to open the channels in the back faster than others but is also natural meaning it's safer than some other qigongs

The style of Taiji that I do has a nèigōng component, and the stance we do for that sounds very similar to what you've described here. I can't vouch for baldness cures or anything, but it's great for developing a "tire of muscle" around the abdomen.

Out of curiosity, besides Zhànzhuāng, is there anything else your teacher practises?

[woliveri]

Hi imron, What he practices is some form of internal taiji. He moves internally more so than externally during practice so the area he practices in is less than a square meter.

As I understand him he studied with a Wu style taiji teacher after being sick and just finally "got it". He said because of that he has advanced much farther than his taiji brothers.

I think there's nothing wrong with someone who "got it" and developed his own method if the principles and theory are adhered to. If he just makes something up nilly willy then of course it's not going to be of any value.

Remember that some now called traditional qigongs were only recently invented such as Wild Goose, Flying Crane, Walking Qigong, etc.

I have been around the block with Qigong teachers and have learned a lot of exercises but not received much progression. I have been practicing this one for about a week now and have already felt a difference in my Bagua practice. So, the proof is in the pudding.

The practice is only standing. The feet are parallel with about a fist or less apart. The knees bend to their full extend while the body sinks down and remains erect. Then the head/neck/upper spine is allowed to curve forward (while remaining centered). The mouth is open naturally which he says relaxes the Tai Zhong area of the chest. Hands/arms relax at the sides and the whole body relaxes. There is serious burn on the lower thigh if done correctly and usually most can only stand like this for less than 2 minutes.

There are no mind practices. He says to think of nothing or don't think of anything:mrgreen: .

[onebir]

here is serious burn on the lower thigh if done correctly and usually most can only stand like this for less than 2 minutes.

Sounds like you'll just end up thinking about the burn Glad you've found something that works for you

[woliveri]

Glad you've found something that works for you

Well, I've received progress in leg strength in this week so that's good but the jury's still out on the Qigong advancement. Time will tell.

I'm not sure how it is in Beijing but pick'ns are very slim for Qigong teachers in Shanghai.

It's incredibly difficult to find someone who:

A) Knows what they're talking about.

B) Is not full of themselves

C) Is reasonably priced

D) Have no problem explaining the practice

Most Qigong teachers I've met and learned from (Chinese in the US) have been one or more of:

A) Full of themselves.

B) Way over priced

C) Keep everything about the practice a super secret

D) Are not good teachers.

E) Could care less about the progress of the student and instead are more interested in promoting their art.

What's it like up there in Beijing?

[onebir]

What's it like up there in Beijing?

i've not been doing yiquan here, not qigong per se. i've chatted with some qigong practioners i've bumped into, and there seems to be an awful lot of making it up as you go along!